AARA are provided to minimise, as much as possible, barriers for students whose disability, impairment, medical condition or other circumstances may affect their ability to access or participate in assessment. Students may also be eligible for AARA where illness and misadventure (i.e. unforeseen circumstances) or other situations may prevent them from demonstrating their learning, knowledge and skill in internal and/or external summative assessment.
Students are eligible for AARA on the following grounds
To minimise, as much as possible, barriers for a student whose disability, impairment, medical condition or other circumstances may affect their ability to read, respond to or participate in assessment.
These barriers fall into three broad categories:
- permanent
- temporary
- intermittent
The QCAA uses broad application categories for AARA eligibility:
- cognitive
- physical
- sensory
- social/emotional
illness and misadventure (sudden and unforeseen circumstance)
(Students whose ability to attend or participate in an assessment is adversely affected by illness or an unexpected event may be eligible for illness and misadventure access arrangements and/or reasonable adjustments. Illness and misadventure can affect a single student or a group of students.)
Students are NOT eligible for AARA on the following grounds:
- Unfamiliarity with the English language
- Teacher absence or other teacher-related difficulties
- Matters that the student could have avoided (e.g. misreading an exam timetable, misreading instructions in exams)
- Timetable clashes
- Matters of the student's or parent's own choosing (e.g. family holidays or sporting events)
- Matters that the school could have avoided (e.g. incorrect enrolment in a subject)
AARA applications must include:
- BSSC AARA application form (for cognitive, physical, sensory or social/emotional)
- BSSC Illness and Misadventure application form (for sudden and unforeseen circumstance)
- Evidence to support the application
For applications on medical grounds, this includes the 'Confidential Medical Report' Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), unless the student has a current Education Adjustment Program (EAP) verification.
For applications for non-medical circumstances or misadventure, this includes documentary evidence that the circumstances were unforeseen and unavoidable.
Examples may include a police report, court notice, funeral notice of immediate family member.
Applications may also include a student statement about the impact of their medical condition or disability on their ability to complete assessment.
For further information, refer to the links on the side of this page.